The New Rules
HIPs have finally become a reality for anyone
who is looking to sell their residential property.
However, properties may be exempt if:
The sale of the properties involves no
marketing (eg. sale to member of your
family)
Non-residential properties
Seasonal and holiday accommodation
Mixed sales (eg. shop with flat)
Right 10 buy and similar sales
Sales of portfolios of properties
Properties not being sold with completely
vacant possession
Unsafe properties and properties to be
demolished.
Properties already on the market when the
duty to have a Pack arises (eg. 1st August
2007 for sales of homes of 4 bedrooms
and above)
New homes built under Part l of the
Building Regulations 2006 (these will be
brought in by a separate commencement
order in due course)
If your property was on the market prior to the
rules changing, you will not need a HIP so long
as the property sells within a reasonable
amount of time.
If your property was on the market prior to the rules changing, you will not need a HIP so long
as the property sells within a reasonable
amount of time. |
What is a HIP?
Evidence of title and local searches have long
been a part of the sales process. The inclusion
of the Energy Performance Certificate is the
result of European legislation, which aims to
help reduce global warming. In order to
produce this, your property will be inspected by
a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor to
ascertain its energy efficiency and
environmental impact and, if appropriate, make
suggestions for possible improvements.
As a minimum, a HIP must contain:
An Index of contents
An Energy Performance Certificate
A sale statement
Evidence of title
Searches
leasehold/commonhold documents where
appropriate
A HIP can also contain additional information
which could help to convince a buyer that the
property is a good choice. Optional items can
include a Home Condition Report, Home Use
Forms, a legal Summary, and other items such
as ci Mining Search, Environmental Search,
Water Search, Common land or Town or
Village Green Search. |
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Who owns a HIP?
If you have purchased a HIP, it is yours to use in
relation to the sale of your property. For
instance, you can have it transferred if you
change estate agents or decide to use more
than one agent to market your property.
Some documents in the HIP must have been
obtained within three months of placing your
property on the market and will remain valid
until the sale of your property. If the property is
taken off the market and then remarketed by the
same seller within a year of the original
marketing date, the original HIP is still valid
and can be used.
If a sale falls through and the property is
remarketed within 28 days, regardless of the
time since first marketing, no new pack will be
required. It would not be necessary to obtain a
second HIP if you change agents, subject to
your agreement with your original agent
regarding payment for the pack.
Beware of anyone trying to sell you a second
pack if you already have one, as it almost
certainly will not be necessary. |
How can we help?
We can provide low·cost, hassle·free Home
Information Packs to anyone who requires a HIP.
We will provide a fast turnaround time; utilising
bespoke tracking software, a dedicated
countrywide network of Domestic Energy
Assessors and Home Inspectors, reliable search
companies, and we also provide access to each
HIP case so you can login to monitor progress. |
Costs and Ordering
Please call in to your local branch for the latest
pricing and further details on how to order.
Please note there is an additional charge on the
cost of a HIP if the property is leasehold,
common hold or the title is unregistered. |
Find out more
The government has a dedicated HIP website www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk which you can visit for further information.
Energy Saving Tips
You can save as much as £250 off your annual
energy bill and reduce your household's impact
on the environment.
For government advice visit www.est.org.uk
Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by
installing a cheap, easy-ta-fix brush or PVC
seal on your exterior doors.
Switch to energy-saving light bulbs. They
can last lOx longer than regular light bulbs
and each bulb you fit could save up to £60
on electricity over the bulb's lifetime.
Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket costs
a few pounds and, with all the heat it
traps in, it pays for itself within months.
Evidence of title
Insulating your loft is one of the simplest
ways to save energy and in a year you
could save around £ 11O.
Around 33% of the heat lost in an
uninsulated house is through the walls.
Insulating wall cavities also creates an even
temperature in your home.
If your boiler is over 15 years old it's
probably time to replace it. New gas
boilers must now be high efficiency and
condensing, they can help save up to a
third on your heating bills.
A HIP can also contain additional information
which could help to convince a buyer that the
property is a good choice. Optional items can
include a Home Condition Report, Home Use
Forms, a legal Summary, and other items such
as Mining Search, Environmental Search,
Water Search, Common land or Town or
Village Green Search. |
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